Anatomy of the Eye Flashcards
What are the 6 oculomotor muscles that allow rotation of the ocular bulb?
- lateral rectus: outward horizontal movement
- median rectus: horizontal movement towards medial line of body
- superior rectus: upward movement
- inferior rectus: downward movement
- inferior oblique: downward outer rotation
- superior oblique: upward external rotation
How are the eyes connected to the encephalon (brain)?
via the optic nerves
What are the 3 fluid filled spaces within an eye?
ANTERIOR CHAMBER
Located between cornea and iris.
Contains aqueous humour.
POSTERIOR CHAMBER
Located between iris and lens.
Contains aqueous humour.
VITREOUS CHAMBER
Located posterior to the lens, between the lens and the posterior wall/retina of the eye
Contains vitreous humour.
What are the components of the ‘outer fibrous tunic’ of the eye?
= external membrane, which is divided into”
- CORNEA: anterior aspect, which lacks blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.
- SCLERA: posterior aspect. Poorly vascularised
What is the palpebral fissure?
oval shaped space between the medial and lateral canthi of the eye lids
How does the upper eye lid differ to the lower lid?
- bigger
- more mobile
What are the medial and lateral canthi?
corners of the eye lids
What is lacrimal caruncle?
globular nodule at the medial canthus
made of skin covering sebaceous and sweat glands
What is the location and function of the lacrimal gland?
located near the lateral canthus superiorly
it is where tears are produced and secreted to the surface of the globe via the lacrimal dict
What is the lacrimal papilla?
small, fleshy projection of the margin of each eyelid close to the medial canthus
Opening of the papilla: PUNCTUM
What is the function of the lacrimal punctum?
opening of the papilla
where tears are collected and travel through the superior and inferior lacrimal canaliculi to the lacrimal sac
Where does the lacrimal sac drain to?
contains tears
drains to the inferior nasal meatus through the naso-lacrimal duct (“runny nose”)
Where is the tough sclera located?
part of the fibrous layer of the globe
Why might loss of sympathetic innervation cause mild drooping (ptosis) of the eyelid?
Ptosis is mild as innervation only lost to the smooth muscle aspect of LEVATOR PALPEBRAE SUPERIORIS muscle
(~30% of its fibres)
What is the other name for the Levator superioris muscle?
Müller’s muscle
Why might more of the sclera be visible during anxiety or in hyperthyroidism?
increased activity in Müller’s muscle via the sympathetic fibre (stimulation)
=> wide eyes
What is the bony orbit?
dry skull
Which bones are contained within the bony orbit?
- frontal
- zygomatic
- maxillary
- lacrimal
- ethmoid
- sphenoid
What does the optic canal transmit?
CN II (optic nerve)
What does the superior orbital fissure transmit?
CN III (oculomotor nerve) CN IV (trochlear nerve) CN V1 (branch one of trigeminal nerve: ophthalmic nerve) CN VI (abducens nerve)
What are the 12 cranial nerves?
OLFACTORY (CN I)
OPTIC (CN II)
OCULOMOTOR (CN III)
TROCHLEAR (CN IV)
TRIGEMINAL (CN V)
ABDUCENS (CN VI)
FACIAL (CN VII)
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR (CN VIII)
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL (CN IX)
VAGUS (CN X)
ACCESSORY NERVE (CN XI)
HYPOGLOSSAL (CN XII)
How many degrees does the eye need to be adducted by in order for the visual and anatomical axes to coincide?
pupil needs to be adducted at ~22.5 degrees
this is from its neural position to make the visual axis (line of sight) coincide with the anatomical axis
What is an orbital “blowout” fracture?
usually follows energetic impact to the anterior globe
this causes a sharp increase in infraorbital pressure
fracturing the thin bony plates of the orbital walls
What is the globe of the eye surrounded by?
periorbital fat
What are the 3 layers of the eye?
- fibrous
- vascular
- neural
what is the outer layer of the eye composed of?
tough, collagen-rich fibrous tissue
What makes up the outer layer of the eye?
(fibrous tunic = outer layer)
- sclera
- cornea